Humidification system and method for a fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9774046-B2
Application number	US-201514801905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Jul 17, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A humidification system for a fuel cell may include a condenser configured to receive fluid output from a cathode of the fuel cell and cool the fluid to extract water from it. A heat exchanger operable to transfer heat from a heat source to an airflow flowing through the heat exchanger may also be included. When the heated airflow is brought into contact with at least some of the extracted water, the airflow is humidified prior to its entering the cathode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A humidification system for a fuel cell, comprising:
a condenser configured to receive fluid output from a cathode of the fuel cell and cool the fluid to extract water therefrom; and
a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between a heat source and an airflow flowing therethrough and bring the airflow in contact with at least some of the extracted water to humidify the airflow prior to the airflow entering the cathode.

2. The humidification system of claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes a first coolant flowing through a first cooling loop, and the first coolant is at a higher temperature than the airflow such that heat is transferred from the first coolant to the airflow.

3. The humidification system of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the condenser is configured to collect the water as it is extracted from the fluid, and the first cooling loop is routed through the portion of the condenser to transfer heat to the collected water.

4. The humidification system of claim 3 , further comprising a heated water line connecting the condenser and the heat exchanger for transferring the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger.

5. The humidification system of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the water line is disposed proximate the first cooling loop, and is heated by the first coolant.

6. The humidification system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve disposed between the condenser and the heat exchanger for controlling flow of the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger, the valve being operable to divert at least some of the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger and being further operable to divert at least some of the extracted water from the condenser to a source other than the heat exchanger.

7. The humidification system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump connected to the condenser and the heat exchanger and operable to pump the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger, and wherein the condenser and the heat exchanger are at least partially enclosed in a common housing, the pump being disposed within a portion of the housing enclosing the condenser.

8. The humidification system of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is connected to the condenser such that an unevaporated portion of the extracted water in the heat exchanger is routed back to the condenser for reintroduction into the heat exchanger.

9. The humidification system of claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed above the condenser such that the unevaporated portion of the extracted water in the heat exchanger automatically flows into the condenser.

10. The humidification system of claim 8 , wherein the condenser is disposed above the heat exchanger and is positioned such that a pressure gradient between the heat exchanger and the condenser during operation of the heat exchanger causes the unevaporated portion of the extracted water in the heat exchanger to flow into the condenser.

11. A humidification system for a fuel cell, comprising:
a condenser configured to receive fluid output from a cathode of the fuel cell and operable to extract water therefrom; and
a heat exchanger connected to the condenser to receive at least some of the extracted water and configured to transfer heat to an airflow prior to the airflow entering the cathode such that at least some of the extracted water is evaporated into the airflow.

12. The humidification system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a housing at least partially enclosing the condenser and the heat exchanger; and
a pump connected to the condenser and the heat exchanger and operable to pump the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger, the pump being disposed within a portion of the housing enclosing the condenser.

13. The humidification system of claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the condenser in the housing such that an unevaporated portion of the extracted water in the heat exchanger flows back into the condenser.

14. The humidification system of claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive heat to transfer to the airflow from a first coolant flowing through a first cooling loop that includes the heat exchanger and a fuel cell stack.

15. The humidification system of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the condenser is configured to collect the water as it is extracted from the fluid, and the first cooling loop is routed through the portion of the condenser to transfer heat to the collected water.

16. The humidification system of claim 15 , further comprising a water line connecting the condenser and the heat exchanger for transferring the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger, at least a portion of the water line being disposed proximate the first cooling loop to receive heat from the first coolant.

17. The humidification system of claim 14 , wherein the condenser is configured to transfer heat to a second coolant flowing through a second cooling loop that includes the condenser and vehicle electronics.

18. A method for humidifying an airflow for a fuel cell, comprising:
introducing an airflow into a heat exchanger and transferring heat to the airflow;
transferring fluid from a cathode of the fuel cell to a condenser and extracting water therefrom;
transferring at least some of the extracted water from the condenser to the heat exchanger and humidifying the heated airflow; and
introducing the humidified airflow into the cathode.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising diverting at least some of the extracted water from the condenser to a source other than the heat exchanger.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising transferring an unevaporated portion of the extracted water from the heat exchanger to the condenser.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sanderson William F
• Pellerin Mark A
• Mathie Craig Michael
• Edwards Virgo W

Classifications

• H01M8/04141

  by water containing exhaust gases · CPC title

• H01M8/04014

  Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04164 Primary

  by condensers, gas-liquid separators or filters · CPC title

• H01M8/04134 Primary

  by coolants · CPC title

• H01M8/04029

  Heat exchange using liquids · CPC title